Aggie Nation,

As we close another outstanding season and reflect on the year ahead, I want to sincerely thank you for the support you continue to show UC Davis Football. This program has reached a level that deserves pride and now demands commitment.

This season marked yet another 10-win year, two home playoff games, and continued proof that UC Davis is a perennial Top 10 program and legitimate national championship contender. Even with a quarterfinal finish for the second straight year, our team represented Aggie Pride the right way until the very end. We are also welcoming one of the strongest recruiting classes in program history, currently ranked higher than several FBS programs, which speaks to the national respect our program has earned.

However, college football is changing rapidly. The NIL era is no longer coming; it is here. And quite frankly, we cannot solely rely on the strengths of our program and this campus to be our competitive advantage. Funding levels that are now standard within our conference, and across the Causeway, exceed what we currently have in place. More importantly, the current NIL landscape has made it increasingly important that we continue to grow the level of support available for our student-athletes, particularly those who have helped elevate our program on a national stage. As interest in our players continues to rise, so does the competition to retain them. Ensuring that UC Davis remains a place where they can thrive requires us to keep pace with these changes.

If we are serious about continuing to play football in December and taking the next step from quarterfinals to semifinals and ultimately a national championship, we must move forward together. A plan is in place to provide meaningful support across our roster and to clearly demonstrate to our student-athletes that the Aggie community is invested in them not just as players, but as young men who proudly choose to be Davis guys.

I am fully committed to doing my part: coaching, recruiting, and retaining high-level student-athletes who fit UC Davis, and building a culture rooted in excellence on and off the field. We are also fortunate to have strong leadership in our athletic department and on campus. Athletics Director Rocko DeLuca has led with urgency and purpose in advocating for this program, and Chancellor Gary May has been an engaged and supportive partner as the department has increased investment in scholarships, nutrition, and facility development. Together, we have pushed campus support as far as possible and built a foundation capable of sustaining a championship-level program. Advancing from here, however, requires increased investment beyond campus funding.

Your support directly impacts our ability to recruit, retain, and develop championship-caliber student-athletes. Whether through a year-end gift; monthly, quarterly, or annual giving; or stock, estate, or other planned giving opportunities, your investment at any level matters, and it matters now.

I also invite you to join us in person at the UC Davis Football Wine Tasting Fundraiser on Saturday, February 28, at Local Edition in San Francisco. It will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow Aggies while directly supporting our program.

Thank you for believing in our vision, our players, and UC Davis Football. With your help, we can take the final steps toward a national championship and raise that trophy together.

Go Ags,

Tim Plough